Open today from 11 am - 5:45 pm.

Upcoming events

The Jewish Museum's unparalleled collection includes nearly 30,000 works of fine art and folk art, Judaica and antiquities, manuscripts and broadcast media, and spans the globe and 4,000 years of history. explore the collection

Talks and lectures, performances, hands-on art making and more are designed to engage general audiences, families, students and educators, and visitors of all abilities. explore our programs

Located on New York City’s Museum Mile, the Jewish Museum is a distinctive hub for art and Jewish culture for people of all backgrounds. From our unique collection to our distinctive exhibitions and dynamic education programs, there is always something to see and do. learn more

The Sound of Light is an interactive installation by Julianne Swartz, inspired by the Hanukkah story and the miracle of light, that guides visitors with sound through the museum’s permanent exhibition Culture and Continuity: The Jewish Journey.

The Jewish Museum’s biennial exhibition The Hanukkah Project celebrates Hanukkah with works of art by leading contemporary artists. The Sound of Light is an interactive installation by Julianne Swartz that guides visitors with sound through the museum’s permanent exhibition Culture and Continuity: The Jewish Journey. This site-specific work on the third and fourth floors is inspired by the Hanukkah story and the miracle of light.

In the Eleanor and Marvin S. Winter Lobby on the fourth floor, visitors encounter a collection of Receivers designed by Ms. Swartz. Visitors are encouraged to follow the Sound of Light instructions: hold the Receiver and let it lead you. As visitors walk through the permanent exhibition and encounter certain displays and spaces, their Receivers resonate with familiar and unfamiliar sounds. Eight different sites, distinguished by wall labels, describe an attribute or description of light and darkness. Experienced together, the sound and text create a poetic connection to the objects on view.

The Sound of Light illustrates Julianne Swartz’s ability to transform public spaces into ephemeral environments through evocative sounds and interactive objects. She has exhibited her work nationally and internationally at the Indianapolis Museum of Art, Tate Liverpool, Aldrich Museum, Whitney Museum of American Art, New Museum of Contemporary Art, P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center, and Sculpture Center, New York. She is currently on the faculty of the School of Visual Arts and Bard College, and lives and works in Kingston, New York.

The Sound of Light is on view Sunday through Thursday.

The Hanukkah Project is supported by the Barbara S. Horowitz Contemporary Art Fund.

Contact Us

Connect With Us

Join Us

Members enjoy valuable benefits — including free admission, discounts, and previews of new exhibitions — while helping the Museum to celebrate and share the rich artistic and cultural heritage of the Jewish people.
Become a member